2017 USA Rice Outlook Conference Educates and
Entertains
SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - The USA Rice Outlook Conference wrapped up
here earlier this week with a renewed emphasis on education that was popular
and appreciated by the more than 750 attendees who packed the many sessions.
"We know asking people to leave their operation is
significant - whether it is a family farm, a mill, or another type of business
- so we wanted to be sure we offered attendees useful information to take home
with them," said Betsy Ward USA Rice President & CEO. "From
the very serious topic of grain bin entrapment to the practical session on
getting and staying organized in your home or office, we think we succeeded."
Other educational breakout sessions focused on food safety
regulations under the overhauled FSMA Rule; crop insurance options for
specialty, organic, and non-organic rice farmers; and understanding and
utilizing the futures market in your marketing plans.
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Farm Bill Panel (l. to r. Cervantes, Sell, Langley,
Redding, Thorenson, and Mosely) Photo: Delta Farm Press
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Trade and farm policy were also hot topics of
course with sessions on the latest with the U.S. - China
phytosanitary agreement, the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement,
and the coming Farm Bill.
Research universities in all six major rice producing
states provided their state outlook and research reports, and an
innovative group of California growers and their representatives held
a fun and informative session on best
communications practices.
One of the liveliest sessions however was
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No
failure to communicate here; the Rice Storytellers (l. to r. Sligar, Richter,
Morris, and Fox)
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"Conservation Tales" where growers Leo LaGrande
(CA), Mark Isbell (AR), Tim Gertson (TX), Christian Richard (LA), and Gibb
Steele (MS) very frankly shared some of the funnier mishaps they've weathered
as they sought to improve their conservation practices with mixed results.
"As always, this week we recognized several leaders in the
industry and also celebrated the students who participated in the National Rice
Month Scholarship video contest whose creativity was inspiring," said
Brian King USA Rice Chairman. "We also screened exciting videos
highlighting some of the great work our members and our organization are
undertaking on behalf of the entire industry."
Attendees left San Antonio energized and well-informed and
are already looking forward to the 2018 USA Rice Outlook Conference that is
scheduled for San Diego, CA from December 5-7.
Watch Videos:...
Friday 15th December, 2017
By Albert Futukpor, GNA
Nyankpala (N/R), Dec 15, GNA - Rice yields are
projected to rise by at least four folds following the implementation of the
Rice Seed Scaling project, which has ensured increased availability of
certified seeds for cultivation.
This will help in reducing rice importation into the
country, which currently stands at approximately 550,000 metric tonnes per year
at a cost of between $300 million to $600 million per annum.
Mr Gary Mullins, Chief of Party of the Agriculture
Technology Transfer project of the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID) said at a stakeholders’ workshop to end the Rice Seed
Scaling project at Nyankpala, near Tamale.
The Rice Seed Scaling project was implemented from
2015 to 2017 by AfricaRice and the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute
(SARI) amongst other partners with funding from USAID to stimulate the
development of a sustainable rice seed system in the northern part of the
country.
The project trained technicians from SARI on breeder
seed production while private seed companies were also trained on foundation
and certified seed production and seed business management to ensure continuous
production of early generation and certified seeds for cultivation.
During the project period, rice farmers’ access to
and cultivation of quality certified seeds such as AGRA Rice and Jasmine Rice
increased, which was significant for the development of the country’s rice
system.
Mr Mullins said efforts would be made to disseminate
the productivity-enhancing technologies to more farmers to join efforts in
stemming the flood of rice imports into the country.
Mr Boubakary Cissé, Seed Expert and Country
Coordinator of the Rice Seed Scaling project, said the project had
re-established trust for various classes of seed amongst farmers, which was
essential for the sustainability of the rice sector.
Mr Cissé expressed the need for all actors in the
rice sector to consolidate the project achievements through backstopping,
on-the-job training, establishment of demonstration plots and media campaigns
to ensure increased cultivation of certified rice seeds for increased yields.
Mr William Boakye-Acheampong, Northern Regional
Director of the Department of Agriculture urged private sector to take
advantage of the project by ensuring the availability of certified seeds for
cultivation.
Mr Martin Pwayidi, Organizing Secretary of Seed
Producers Association of Ghana, Upper East Region, said the project helped to
ensure technology transfer for stakeholders assuring that seed producers would
work to ensure availability of certified seeds.
Arkansas -- national leader in rice
production -- experiences solid harvest
STUTTGART – A growing season of
drought, flood and do-overs may still result in the fourth highest state
average yield on record for Arkansas’ rice growers, the nation’s top producer of
that commodity.
Jarrod Hardke, extension rice
agronomist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said
that this “growing season was a mixed bag.”
Arkansas growers planted 1.16
million acres of rice in 2017, down 25 percent from the previous year. Long
grain acres declined from 1.41 million acres in 2016 to 995,000 million in
2017. Medium grain acres expanded from 135,000 in 2016 to 165,000 in 2017.
“Our planting progress was the
second-fastest on record behind 2012 but was followed by severe flooding
affecting hundreds of thousands of acres in late April and early May,” he said.
“As a result of this flooding, some fields were lost and had to be replanted,
while others lost levees that had to be re-pulled, resulting in loss of production
on levees.”
At that point, rice futures
exploded even higher, said Scott Stiles, extension economist for the Division
of Agriculture.
“The closely followed September
contract made its lows for the year in the last week of April -- trading as low
as $9.65 per hundredweight,” he said. “By mid-September when the contract
expired, it had touched $12.76 in its final week of trading. It was a
phenomenal run. From the end of April, the September contract closed higher in
14 of the 20 weeks that followed.”
Continued rainfall throughout the
spring and summer made timely fertilizer and herbicide applications difficult.
“Despite these difficulties,
regular rainfall reduced irrigation costs and improved flood management, and
overall mild summer conditions resulted in excellent yields and improved
quality compared to recent years,” Hardke said. “The state average yield is
likely to be fourth highest on record at 164 bushels per acre or greater. Only
2012, with 166 bushels per acre, 2013’s 168 bushels per acre and 2014’s 168
bushels per acre have been greater.”
“At this point the USDA is
optimistic growers will see higher prices for the 2017 crop,” Stiles said.
“Long-grain production is
projected to be down 24 percent from last year on lower acreage,” he said.
“Ending stocks are expected to tighten considerably from 31 million
hundredweight in 2016 to 16.5 million by the end of 2017 marketing year.”
In its December supply/demand
report, USDA’s average producer price for 2017 long-grain was projected at
$12.10 per hundredweight or $5.45 per bushel.
“That would be up $1.11 from last
year’s $4.34 per bushel,” Stiles said.
FOOD MONSTER -
RECIPES
Egg-less Nog Rice Pudding [Vegan]
If you enjoy recipes like this,
we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App, it's available for
both Android and iPhone and has free
and paid versions. The app is loaded with thousands of allergy-friendly &
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A sweet and creamy treat made with vegan nog, rice, and savory spices. Perfect
for the holiday season!
EGG-LESS
NOG RICE PUDDING [VEGAN]
THIS RECIPE IS :
SERVES
4
INGREDIENTS
For the Pudding:
·
4
cups of rice
·
2
dates, pitted
·
2
bananas, pureed
·
1/2
cup of toasted pecans
·
1
tablespoon of pure vanilla extract
·
1
teaspoon of cinnamon
·
1/4
teaspoon of nutmeg
·
1/8
teaspoon of cloves
·
A
pinch of finely ground sea salt
To Top the Pudding:
·
2
tablespoons of cinnamon sugar
·
2
cups of water
PREPARATION
1.
Preheat
the oven to 350°F and heat two cups of water
2.
Puree
the banana and dates in a food processor and transfer to a large bowl. Add the
rice, pecans, nog, vanilla, and spices to the mixture and stir until well
combined. Spoon into two 4-inch ramekins or a 9-inch pie plate and sprinkle
with the cinnamon sugar and vegan butter.
3.
Put
the ramekins in a roasting pan that’s covered with about an inch of hot water
and bake for approximately 20 minutes or until the top has a caramelized crust.
Let cool for five minutes.
NOTES
Can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days!
http://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/egg-less-nog-rice-pudding/
Asia Rice India
Prices Climb Bangladesh Demand Thailand Vietnam Markets Muted
ia Rice: India Prices Climb on Bangladesh Demand;
Thailand-Vietnam Markets Muted
Laborers unload sacks of rice from a handcart at a wholesale
market in Kolkata, India, December 14, 2015. (Reuters Photo/Rupak De Chowdhuri)
Bengaluru. Rice prices in India jumped
this week, helped by strengthening demand from Bangladesh, while markets in
Thailand and Vietnam remained relatively quiet with lackluster demand ahead of
upcoming year-end holidays.
India's 5 percent broken
parboiled rice prices gained by $10 per tonne to $416-$419 per tonne.
"Sentiments have improved
due to the demand from Bangladesh. Traders are speculating it could buy more in
the first quarter of the next year," an exporter based in Kakinada in the
southern state of Andhra Pradesh said.
Bangladesh, which has emerged as a major importer of the grain
this year after floods damaged its crops, will import 150,000 tonnes of rice
from India in a state deal priced at $440 a tonne, two food ministry officials
said last week.
Meanwhile, India's paddy rice
supply from new season crop has started rising, but aggressive government
buying has been keeping prices firm, exporters said.
The appreciating rupee also
forces exporters to raise prices for overseas buyers, said another exporter
based in Kakinada. A stronger rupee trims exporters' returns.
Meanwhile, demand in Thailand and
Vietnam remained weak as Christmas and New Year holidays in some importing
countries kept buyers away from the market, but exporters were optimistic about
the fresh deals.
"As it is approaching the
end of the year, buyers are not active at the moment," said a
Bangkok-based trader.
Thailand's benchmark 5 percent
broken rice eased to $390-$400, free-on-board (FOB) Bangkok, from $401-$405 a
tonne last week.
Traders remain hopeful as the
European Union's Foreign Affairs Council is to resume gradual political
engagement with Thailand, and there are possibilities for resuming talks on an
EU-Thailand Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
"If the EU-Thailand FTA
materializes, this should help boost Thai rice exports to the EU a bit.
However, the EU isn't currently a big buyer of Thai rice," said the
Bangkok-based trader.
In Vietnam, benchmark 5-percent
broken rice was quoted at $390-$400, compared with $395 a week earlier.
Traders said some private
importers from Philippines have approached Vietnamese traders for rice deal
talks, as Philippines' National Food Authority approved their import quotas
under the country's Minimum Access Volume 2017 program.
"This year's quota seems to
be lower. I think Filipino importers might buy around 50,000 tonnes of rice
from Vietnam," a trader in Ho Chi Minh City said.
However, another trader said
buyers would wait for fresh supply and better offers when the major
winter-spring crop season completes in February.
Rabi acreage gains pace; exceeds
514 lakh hectares
Surpasses last year’s area for
the first time
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 15:
The area under cultivation in the
current rabi season for the first time this week surpassed that of
corresponding period last year, according to the data released by the
Agriculture Ministry on Friday. The total acreage under the rabi this year
stood at 514.22 lakh hectares (lh), a marginal 1 per cent rise from 509.12 lh
during the same period last year. However, the acreage of wheat, oilseeds and
coarse cereals was slightly down, whereas that of rice and pulses continues to
be higher.
The acreage under wheat was
245.50 lh — nearly 2 per cent lower than 250.48 lh same period last year.
Oilseeds have covered 70.73 lh (74.76 lh) so far, and coarse cereals have been
sown on 46.93 lh — down 2 per cent. Area of pulses cultivation, on other hand,
was inching closer to normal for the entire season at 138.19 lh, up 8.8 per
cent than the corresponding period last year.
The area covered by rice, though
small compared with other rabi crops, was up 40 per cent at 12.88 lh, thanks to
a spurt in rice acreage in Tamil Nadu, which received bountiful rains after
three years of continuous drought.
Government
to import rice, essential items until the Sinhala Tamil New Year season
Thu,
Dec 14, 2017, 11:48 pm SL Time, ColomboPage News Desk, Sri Lanka.
Dec
14, Colombo: The government has decided to continue import rice and other
essential items so that consumers can obtain them at affordable prices during
the forthcoming holiday seasons.Accordingly the Cabinet Sub-Committee on
Economic Management chaired by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has taken a
decision to import 100,000 metric tons of rice monthly until the Sinhala Tamil
New Year season.Meanwhile, the Agriculture Ministry is due to issue a
projection of the paddy harvest of 2017/18 Maha and 2018 Yala harvest and
according to the projected harvest, the government will import rice 100,000
metric tons of rice per month until the paddy harvest reaches the market in
sufficient quantities.
Sri
Lanka's annular rice requirement is about 2.4 million metric tons and due to
the shortage of paddy harvest this year, 670,000 metric tons of rice, which is
about 30 percent of the rice requirement, have been imported.
The
cabinet subcommittee has also decided to allow any commercial institution to
import rice in order to provide sufficient rice until the Sinhala Tamil New
year season next year.
Accordingly,
the duration of the 25 cents per kilo special commodity levy imposed on rice
has been extended to 31 march 2018.
It
was also decided to take measures to provide essential food items such as dhal,
canned fish, big onions, potatoes, sugar and sprats to consumers without any
shortages. Importers have promised the government that they will sell those
materials at the import price. The government has agreed to provide relief to
the importers for the extra expenses they would incur in importing and storing
the items.Meanwhile, as an alternative to the demand for coconut, the coconut
milk producers and manufacturers have been permitted to import coconut flesh
free of import taxes.Relevant institutions have been instructed to provide the
necessary approval to get the coconut flesh imports cleared from the harbor
within a day.
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- December 15, 2017
Reuters | Dec 15,
2017, 13:55 IST
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices -
APMC/Open Market-December 15 Nagpur, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Gram prices today moved
down in Nagpur Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) on lack of demand
from local millers amid high moisture content arrival. Easy condition on NCDEX
and fresh fall in Madhya Pradesh gram prices also affected
sentiment in limited deals. About 250 bags of gram reported for auctions in
Nagpur APMC, according to sources. FOODGRAINS & PULSES GRAM * Gram
varieties ruled steady in open market here on subdued demand from local
traders. TUAR * Tuar gavarani reported higher in open market here on good
seasonal demand from local traders. * Wheat mill quality recovered in open
market on good buying support from local traders. * In Akola, Tuar New -
4,000-4,150, Tuar dal (clean) - 5,700-5,800, Udid Mogar (clean) - 8,200-9,000,
Moong Mogar (clean) 7,000-7,300, Gram - 4,525-4,675, Gram Super best -
7,300-7,500 * Other varieties of wheat, rice and other foodgrain items moved in
a narrow range in scattered deals and settled at last levels in weak trading
activity. Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100
kg FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close Gram Auction 3,300-3,700
3,450-3,780 Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600 Tuar Auction n.a. 3,765-3,924
Moong Auction n.a. 3,900-4,200 Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500 Masoor Auction
n.a. 2,600-2,800 Wheat Mill quality Auction 1,570-1,656 1,525-1,680 Gram Super
Best Bold 7,000-7,500 7,000-7,500 Gram Super Best n.a. n.a. Gram Medium Best
6,000-6,400 6,000-6,400 Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a Gram Mill Quality 4,550-4,600
4,550-4,600 Desi gram Raw 4,650-4,950 4,650-4,950 Gram Kabuli 12,400-13,000
12,400-13,000 Tuar Fataka Best-New 6,200-6,400 6,200-6,400 Tuar Fataka Medium-New 5,900-6,100 5,900-6,100
Tuar Dal Best Phod-New 5,400-5,600 5,400-5,600 Tuar Dal Medium phod-New
5,100-5,300 5,100-5,300 Tuar Gavarani New 4,200-4,300 4,150-4,250 Tuar
Karnataka 4,700-4,950 4,700-4,950 Masoor dal best 5,100-5,400 5,100-5,400
Masoor dal medium 4,700-4,950 4,700-4,950 Masoor n.a. n.a. Moong Mogar bold
(New) 7,200-7,600 7,200-7,600 Moong Mogar Medium 6,600-6,900 6,600-6,900 Moong
dal Chilka 5,600-6,500 5,600-6,500 Moong Mill
quality n.a. n.a. Moong Chamki best 7,600-8,100 7,600-8,100 Udid Mogar best
(100 INR/KG) (New) 8,500-9,500 8,500-9,500 Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG)
6,000-7,500 6,000-7,500 Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,800 5,600-6,800
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,500 5,200-5,500 Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg)
2,800-2,900 2,800-2,950 Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,200 2,900-3,000 Watana
Green Best (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,800 3,400-3,800 Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG)
1,900-2,000 1,900-2,000 Wheat Mill quality (100 INR/KG) 1,800-1,900 1,750-1,850
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 2,100-2,300
2,100-2,300 Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Wheat Lokwan
medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 1,900-2,100 Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a.
n.a. MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,100-3,600
3,100-3,600 MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,700 2,300-2,700 Rice BPT
best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,500 3,000-3,500 Rice BPT medium (100 INR/KG)
2,800-2,900 2,800-2,900 Rice Luchai (100 INR/KG) 2,200-2,400 2,200-2,400 Rice
Swarna best (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,600 2,500-2,600 Rice Swarna medium (100
INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400 Rice HMT best (100 INR/KG) 3,600-4,000
3,600-4,000 Rice HMT medium (100 INR/KG) 3,250-3,600 3,250-3,600 Rice Shriram
best(100 INR/KG) 4,900-5,200 4,900-5,200 Rice Shriram med (100 INR/KG)
4,500-4,700 4,500-4,700 Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 10,200-14,000
10,200-14,000 Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,200-7,500 5,300-7,500 Rice
Chinnor best 100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,000 5,800-6,000 Rice Chinnor medium (100
INR/KG) 5,200-5,500 5,200-5,500 Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 2,000-2,200
2,000-2,100 Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,800-2,000 1,700-2,000 WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 30.6 degree Celsius, minimum temp. 14.6 degree Celsius Rainfall :
Nil FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Maximum and minimum temperature would be around
and 31 and 15 degree Celsius respectively. Note: n.a.--not available (For oils,
transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but included in market
prices)
By
Albert Futukpor, GNA
Friday 15th December, 2017
Nyankpala
(N/R), Dec 15, GNA - Rice yields are projected to rise by at least four folds
following the implementation of the Rice Seed Scaling project, which has
ensured increased availability of certified seeds for cultivation.
This
will help in reducing rice importation into the country, which currently stands
at approximately 550,000 metric tonnes per year at a cost of between $300
million to $600 million per annum.
Mr
Gary Mullins, Chief of Party of the Agriculture Technology Transfer project of
the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said at a
stakeholders’ workshop to end the Rice Seed Scaling project at Nyankpala, near
Tamale.
The
Rice Seed Scaling project was implemented from 2015 to 2017 by AfricaRice and
the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) amongst other partners with
funding from USAID to stimulate the development of a sustainable rice seed
system in the northern part of the country.
The
project trained technicians from SARI on breeder seed production while private
seed companies were also trained on foundation and certified seed production
and seed business management to ensure continuous production of early
generation and certified seeds for cultivation.
During
the project period, rice farmers’ access to and cultivation of quality
certified seeds such as AGRA Rice and Jasmine Rice increased, which was
significant for the development of the country’s rice system.
Mr
Mullins said efforts would be made to disseminate the productivity-enhancing
technologies to more farmers to join efforts in stemming the flood of rice
imports into the country.
Mr
Boubakary Cissé, Seed Expert and Country Coordinator of the Rice Seed Scaling
project, said the project had re-established trust for various classes of seed
amongst farmers, which was essential for the sustainability of the rice sector.
Mr
Cissé expressed the need for all actors in the rice sector to consolidate the
project achievements through backstopping, on-the-job training, establishment
of demonstration plots and media campaigns to ensure increased cultivation of
certified rice seeds for increased yields.
Mr
William Boakye-Acheampong, Northern Regional Director of the Department of
Agriculture urged private sector to take advantage of the project by ensuring
the availability of certified seeds for cultivation.
Mr
Martin Pwayidi, Organizing Secretary of Seed Producers Association of Ghana,
Upper East Region, said the project helped to ensure technology transfer for
stakeholders assuring that seed producers would work to ensure availability of
certified seeds.
GNA
Iran reinstates ban on
rice imports, hampers India’s basmati sales
·
The Hindu Business Line
·
15 Dec 2017
Iran, India’s largest market for basmati,
has reinstated the ban on rice imports, delaying the shipments from India,
trade sources said.
The country had lifted the ban on
November 22, but immediately re-imposed the curbs. There is no certainty on the
when the ban will be lifted again, sources said.
Iran bans rice imports every year
during June-November to ensure fair returns for its farmers during their
harvesting period. This year, it has extended the ban to prevent a glut in its
domestic market. Despite the ban, Indian traders have been in “anticipatory
talks” with Iranian buyers and have made deals to export nearly 100,000 tonnes
of basmati when the ban is lifted, the exporter said.
The average price of the deals with
Iran has been around $975/ tonne so far, against the expectation of $1,000 .
Rice stocks decline in 11 months
MANILA, Philippines — The country’s
rice inventory continued its downward trend, declining anew by10 percent to
2.95 million metric tons (MT) in November, according to the latest data from
the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The PSA reported total rice
inventory was lower than the 3.3 million MT recorded a year earlier, but was 53
percent higher than the 1.9 million MT in October.
Stock inventory of Filipinos’ main
staple will be sufficient for 87 days, the PSA said.
Stocks held by households are sufficient
for 52 days while those in commercial warehouses are good for 29 days.
The National Food Authority,
meanwhile, has depositories enough only for six days when it is supposed to
have a 15-day buffer stock.
Households had more than half of
total inventories at 60 percent, while commercial warehouses held about 33
percent.
Supplies from NFA depositories
cornered seven percent of the total.
On a monthly basis, rice stocks in
all sectors went up in households at 66 percent, commercial at 39 percent and
NFA depositories at 20 percent.
Stocks are expected to boost until
the end of the year as the main crop harvest season began in October.
Meanwhile, corn stock inventory
stood at 603,290 million MT or almost the same volume as last year’s level.
Of the total, 81 percent was in
commercial warehouses, 18 percent in households, and less than one percent in
NFA depositories.
Month-on-month, corn stocks in all
sectors went down by 59 percent in commercial warehouses, 35 percent in
households and four percent in NFA depositories.
http://www.philstar.com/business/2017/12/14/1768103/rice-stocks-decline-11-months
According to the reliable sources, it has been reported that two locally-developed technologies that aims to address the most common post-harvest problems of Filipino rice farmers are now being commercialized by the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech).In this matter, the PhilMech Executive Director Mr Rex Bingabing informed that these two technologies such as the fluidized bed dryer and brown rice huller are very beneficial to the local farmers. The moment local companies begin fabricating the both technologies; the farmers and millers can use them efficiently to dry and to mill the rice, as narrated by Mr Binging. Moreover, the fluidized bed drying system was built to accommodate large volumes of high-moisture paddy rice for drying during the rainy months, in particularly when drying under the sun is not possible.
